Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences Research Article ISSN 1112-9867 Special Issue Available online at http://www.jfas.info PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AMONG YOUNG SQUASH PLAYERS IN MALAYSIA M. Sankaravel*, A. C. Lee, S. Mondam, and J. F. L. Low Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tg Malim, Perak, Malaysia Published online: 10 November 2017 ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by young squash players in Malaysia. This study was conducted retrospectively by using Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (NSQ) during SUKMA 2016 at Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The questionnaires were distributed to the squash players after getting the approval from the authorities. Totally 94 questionnaires were distributed and 60 questionnaires (62.5%) were returned with completed answers. The mean age of the respondents were 17.58 ± 3.042 years with 8.85 ± 3.013 years of experience of playing squash. Among the respondents 83.33% were reported that they had musculoskeletal problems during last 12 months. The wrist and hand were the area with the highest (31.7%) prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, and the elbow with least (8.3%) prevalence among the respondents. Key Words: Squash, musculoskeletal, injury, survey, evaluation Author Correspondence, e-mail: [email protected] doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jfas.v9i6s.83 Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Libraries Resource Directory. We are listed under Research Associations category. M. Sankaravel et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2017, 9(6S), 1132-1140 1133 1. INTRODUCTION Squash is one of the popular competitive sports played in Malaysia. It is a high-intensity, intermittent sport, which requires quick movements as maintaining control over placement of the ball with greatest spatial awareness. Since this game encumbers a high level of fitness from the players, who are usually active for the majority of the playing time [1]. As Malaysia is one among 155 squash playing countries, it’s having good track records in the world ranking of its players and always thriving to keep its ranking positions throughout the year. Consequently, the ongoing increase in popularity of squash among Malaysians has been associated with an increase in competitive levels in school leagues, at state level and at national level. At the national level, the SUKMA games in Malaysia held once every two years for Malaysian youth players. This event is often viewed as a high end national level competition and is usually referred to as the "Malaysian Olympics" for young adolescent players. Squash is one of the core sporting events in SUKMA. Young squash players are now participating at relatively more competitive levels of play compared with 20 years ago. According to Eime, Zazryn and Finch (2003), the shift in focus among young people from enjoyment of physical activity to competitiveness is placing high demands on the musculoskeletal and physical systems [2]. The involvement in sporting activities sometime may produce inevitable and unpredictable injuries although caution is taken on safe sporting environment set-ups and good fitness levels of athletes [3]. The incidence of injury varies widely within and between sports; and age groups as well. Squash is also not compromised anywhere for this and even the adolescent or youngsquash players. According to Bylak and Hutchinson, (1998) the maturing adolescent musculoskeletal system may increasethe risk of musculoskeletal injury [4]. The biomechanical demands placed on the vulnerable neuro-musculoskeletal system of young people by high-intensity sports such as squash may be an injury risk factor [5]. Thus, the incidences of musculoskeletal injuries among such players are thought to be at higher rate. However, the informations regarding the injury rate and injury type among Malaysian squash players especially young players are still lacking. Hence, this study was aimed to conduct to investigate the rate of injuries and type of injuries among Malaysian young squash players. M. Sankaravel et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2017, 9(6S), 1132-1140 1134 2. METHODS 2.1 Participants This study was conducted during the SUKMA 2016 at the Squash complex, Kuching, Sarawak. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) questionnaires were distributed to the young squash players after getting permission from the chair of the technical committee for Squash in SUKMA 2016 and from the respective state coaches. Consents were obtained from the respective state coaches and the players before administrating the data collection procedures from the young athletes. For the purpose of the study the young athletes were defined as the athletes within the age of 13-21 years from various states of Malaysia and representing their respective states for the event squash in SUKMA 2016 were called as young squash players. An injury was defined as any pain and or disability sustained by the squash player during competitions or training sessions resulting in time lost from sports participation in last 12 months. 2.2 Instrument A retrospective study of all musculoskeletal injuries occurring to young squash players were undertaken by using SNQ [6]. The questionnaire consists of 2 parts and a diagram showing clearly of 9 anatomical sites to assist the players for the assessment of musculoskeletal symptoms. First part was on the demographic data and the second part were on the musculoskeletal symptoms and related anatomical sites. 2.3 Procedure The questionnaires were distributed to the players after explaining the purpose and importance of the study. Since this study was purely voluntary, the players were permitted to withdraw from the study by returning questionnaire without responding the questions. This study was supported by the University Research Grant. The questionnaires were distributed by the researcher with the help of field-assistants to the players a day before to the tournament. The players were asked to answer any injury incidence during last 12 months of time. All sort of assistance were provided by the researchers to answer the questions in the questionnaire. The players were given two days time to return their questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0 for windows. Microsoft Excel 2010 was also used to key in the collected data. Descriptive statistical M. Sankaravel et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2017, 9(6S), 1132-1140 1135 analysis was conducted to describe the characteristics of studied variables as mean, standard deviation and frequency. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Demography A total of 60 (62.5%) players were responded the questionnaire from 96 players. Table 1 shows the demographic details of the respondents. Table 1. Demography of the respondents Characteristics Frequency (%) Mean ± SD Age (year) 17.58 ± 3.042 Gender Boys 29 (48.33%) Girls 31 (51.67%) Experience in Playing Squash(year) 8.85 ± 3.013 N = 60 The mean age of the respondents was 17.58 ± 3.042 years. The respondents were 51.67% girls and 48.33% boys. The mean experience in playing squash was 8.85 ± 3.013 years. Table 2. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal symptoms during the last 12 moths Musculoskeletal Frequency Percentage (%) Symptoms Yes 50 83.33% No 10 16.67% N = 60 A total of 83.33% respondents were had an experience of having musculoskeletal problems in any one of the nine defined anatomical site in the SNQ during the last 12 months of period (Table 2). The following Table 3 and Figure 1 shows and compares that the wrist and hand were the area with the highest (31.7%) prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, followed by ankle/feet (26.7%), shoulder (25%) hip/thigh and Knee were equal of (20%), Neck and Upper back were M. Sankaravel et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2017, 9(6S), 1132-1140 1136 also equal (16.7%), Lower back was the second least (11.7%) and the elbow with least (8.3%) prevalence among the respondents. Table 3. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal symptoms by anatomical site Anatomical Site Frequency Percentage Neck 10 16.7 Shoulder 15 25 Elbow 5 8.3 Wrist/Hand 19 31.7 Upper back 10 16.7 Lower back 7 11.7 Hip/Thigh 12 20 Knee 12 20 Ankle/Feet 16 26.7 N = 60 Fig.1. Comparison of musculoskeletal symptoms by anatomical site The high level young squash players representing to their states for a national level competition like SUKMA, tended to play more frequently, more hastily became more involved in the game, and played for a longer time than the other players. Hence, the authors believe the samples selected were representative of the overall young squash players’ population in general and we can therefore meaningfully predict the prevalence of injuries among young squash players. The majority squash injuries occur to the lower limb 32% to 58% of all injuries [1], and the M. Sankaravel et al. J Fundam Appl Sci. 2017, 9(6S), 1132-1140 1137 authors also stated in their review that ankle was found to be the most frequent injury site contributing to 13% to 16% of all squash injuries and followed by the knee accounted for 7% to 9%. Figure 1 summarizes the commonly injured anatomical site in young squash players and current study shows about 26.7% of the young athletes were suffered from the ankle injuries, 20% of the players were injured their knee and 20% of the players were reported on musculoskeletal symptoms at their hip and thigh as well. Unexpectedly, the incidences are higher in this study; however we have surveyed only on the young squash players whereas the previous authors conducted the study on different age groups as well. According to Finch & Eime (2001), the upper-limb injuries make up 17% to 35% of all squash injuries [1].